Adaptive sleep system using data analytics and learning techniques to improve individual sleep conditions

ABSTRACT

A bed integrates sensors and other inputs to detect specific sleep environment conditions including point-specific pressure and/or temperature conditions. The bed includes a controller for commanding actuator or other devices to adjust these conditions. The controller may do so based on reference patterns for conditions and profiles of desired conditions. Information regarding the conditions may be provided to a remote computer, which may analyze the conditions and provide revised profiles of desired conditions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/368,773, filed on Jul. 29, 2016,the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sleep, the environmental andphysiological elements that might affect sleep, and the potential forimproving the sleep experience of an individual.

It is well known that there are numerous factors that can affect sleep;and a lack of sleep or poor quality sleep can have a negative influenceon people's health, wellness, and productivity.

The quality of sleep generally depends on the length and depth of thedistinct sleep stages (or sleep phases). According to the AmericanAcademy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), there are four stages of sleep: REM(Rapid Eye Movement), and three non-REM sleep stages (NREM: N1, N2, andN3), where N3 is also called delta sleep or slow-wave sleep. N1 is thelightest sleep and N1 can sometimes be considered awake, adults spendthe majority of the night in N2, and N3 and REM are deeper sleep. Sleepquality and other functions of sleep such as feeling refreshed andmemory consolidations are linked to the length and depth of sleep in REMand deep sleep stages. Different sleep environments and conditions candirectly affect sleep quality, including sleep position, neck and spinalalignment, higher pressure points on muscles and joints, and temperaturehot or cold spots. Furthermore, breathing problems, such as snoring andapnea, in which breathing is constrained or blocked causing regulararousals, commonly interrupt sleep and prevent achieving or staying indeeper sleep stages. To help improve apnea and snoring, it is well knownthat sleeping in the side position (vs. supine (back) or front)significantly improves breathing passageways, and in fact, resolves theapnea condition for over 50% of the apnea cases. However, as people age,it becomes more difficult to sleep comfortably in the side position, sofor comfort reasons, many people must sleep on their backs, which thenexacerbates breathing problems.

Because each individual has a different body type, shape, and condition,as well as different lifestyles, health conditions, and needs, the idealsleep environment for each individual may be custom and personalized.Furthermore, sleep activity itself is a dynamic activity, with changingpositions, sleep stages, temperature changes, environmental changes(light, sounds), as well as influence of sleeping partner. Static sleepsolutions (beds, cushions, pillows) that are widely used today havefixed characteristics and don't change characteristics throughout thesleep cycle. Furthermore, data on how effective changes in environmentand sleep condition improve quality of sleep is today generally limitedto imperfect sleep studies, often performed in artificial environments.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Recent advances in computation power has enabled scaled use ofartificial intelligence, learning algorithms and methods, and dataanalytics. These methods include machine learning, pattern matching,deep learning, and data analysis, which can be used not only to analyzepatterns and correlations using large data sets, but also lead tolearned iterative improvements in closed-loop robotic systems, wherecontrol algorithms that control electro-mechanical systems enabled withvarious sensors can be improved over time through sensor data analysisand measured trials and experimentation. An example of such systems areself-driving technologies in automobiles. A sleep system that provides acomplete closed-loop system coupling both sensor data and an adaptable,controllable bed environment would enable the use of these analytics andlearning techniques to make significant improvements in sleep qualityfor individuals and larger populations.

The invention includes methods and systems, devices, and/or combinationof apparatuses to provide a reactive and/or adaptive sleep system andmethods for using individual and collective group analytics and learningtechniques to improve sleep quality. Some embodiments in accordance withaspects of the invention comprise a bed system and analytics platformwith multiple elements, which may include one, some, or all of:

1) a bed system that integrates

a) sensors and other inputs to detect specific sleep environmentconditions (including point-specific pressure and support, temperature,sound and/or light), physiological conditions and position, and otheruser and environmental context,

b) specific array of actuators or other devices that can be controlledto physically enable a dynamic sleep surface and/or environment for anindividual or multiple individuals in a multi-zone configuration and

c) a modular physical design to ease shipment, portability,user-assembly and/or inventory logistics,

d) a controller, including at least one processor, configured to commandactuation of the actuators, collect and/or process sensor data, andcommunicate over a network to a remote computer that performs dataanalytic and learning algorithms and methods,

2) methods to

a) analyze user conditions and context

b) generate control signals to adjust and optimize dynamically the sleepsurface and/or environment in order to maximize sleep quality based onmetrics

c) learn which combination control signals and sequences result inimproved sleep quality for the user and collection of users, and

3) a network-connected data analytics and learning architecture thatperforms methods to analyze user and platform data across user groups inorder to optimize sleep control configurations for individual users, forexample to measure effectiveness and learn iterative optimizations andimprovements for individuals and different subgroups who share commoncharacteristics.

Embodiments of this architecture may support the combination of datacollection, methods of analysis and learning, and control feedbackinstructions (both locally and across larger groups), which in someembodiments can be used to dynamically adjust fine resolution physicalcontrols of this sleep environment that enable sleep qualityimprovements customized to a specific sleeper and their current sleepand environmental states.

In some embodiments a bed system includes a sleeping surface, electricaland/or electromechanical components to adjust position and/ortemperature of the sleeping surface on a localized basis, sensors tosense at least one physical parameter associated with the sleepingsurface, sensors to sense the user's health vitals or statistics, and acontroller to command operation of the electrical and/orelectromechanical components based on information from the sensors. Insome embodiments the controller commands operation of the electricaland/or electromechanical components based on information from thesensors and information relating to a therapy profile for a user of thebed system. In some embodiments the controller provides informationrelating to the electrical and/or electromechanical components and theinformation from the sensors to a server, and uses information from theserver in commanding operation of the electrical and/orelectromechanical components.

In some embodiments, a bed system comprises a sleeping surface, at leastone array of actuators to adjust position of the sleeping surface, atleast one array of sensors to provide an indication of a physicalparameter associated with the sleep surface, and a controller configuredto command actuation of the actuators based on the indication of thephysical parameter. In some embodiments the physical parameter ispressure. In some embodiments the physical parameter is temperature. Insome embodiments the array of actuators is an array of modules includinga plurality of actuators. In some embodiments the controller isconfigured to commonly control all of the plurality of actuators of aparticular module. In some embodiments the sensors of the at least onearray of sensors is commonly mounted with the actuators of the at leastone array of actuators. In some embodiments the bed system furthercomprises at least one additional array of sensors to provide anindication of an additional physical parameter associated with the sleepsurface. In some such embodiments the physical parameter is temperatureand the additional physical parameter is pressure. In some embodimentsthe controller is additionally configured to command actuation of theactuators based on information received from a server.

In some embodiments, a method, performed by at least one processor, forassisting in adjusting a sleep platform environment with localizedpressure and temperature control regions across the sleep surface,comprises: receiving information from a plurality of sleep platforms,the information including localized pressure and temperature informationover time for a plurality of locations across each of the sleepplatforms; receiving information relating to a corresponding pluralityof users of the plurality of sleep platforms, the information includingheart and/or respiratory information or other health vitals andstatistics over time; determining a therapy profile including updatedlocalized pressure and temperature control information for at least oneuser sleep platform based on the received information from the pluralityof sleep platforms and users; and sending the therapy profile to atleast one user sleep platform to update the control settings of thesleep platform.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide abed system, comprising: a sleep surface; a plurality of sensors forproviding indications of pressure for a first plurality of differentlocations of the sleep surface; a plurality of actuators to adjustpressures for a second plurality of different locations of the sleepsurface; and a controller configured to receive the indications ofpressure and to command the plurality of actuators to adjust thepressures based the indications of pressures and a relationships betweenindications of pressure and desired pressures.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide amethod for adjusting a sleep surface of a bed, comprising: measuringindications of pressure for a plurality of locations of the sleepsurface; comparing the indications of pressure to at least one referencedata pattern for indications of pressure for the plurality of locationsof the sleep surface; commanding adjustment of pressure for portions ofthe sleep surface based on results of the comparison.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide amethod, performed by at least one processor, for assisting in adjustinga sleep platform environment with localized pressure regions across thesleep surface, comprising: receiving information from a plurality ofsleep platforms, the information including localized pressure over timefor a plurality of locations across each of the sleep platforms;receiving information relating to a corresponding plurality of users ofthe plurality of sleep platforms, the information including heart and/orrespiratory information over time; determining updated localizedpressure control information for at least one user sleep platform basedon the received information from the plurality of sleep platforms andusers; and sending the updated localized pressure control information toat least one user sleep platform to update the control settings of thesleep platform.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide abed system, comprising: a sleep surface; a plurality of sensors forproviding indications of temperature for a first plurality of differentlocations of the sleep surface; a plurality of temperature controlapparatuses to adjust temperature for a second plurality of differentlocations of the sleep surface; and a controller configured to receivethe indications of temperature and to command the plurality oftemperature control apparatuses to adjust the temperatures based theindications of temperature and a relationships between indications oftemperature and desired temperatures.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide amethod for adjusting a sleep surface of a bed, comprising: measuringindications of temperature for a plurality of locations of the sleepsurface; comparing the indications of temperature to at least onereference data pattern for indications of temperature for the pluralityof locations of the sleep surface; commanding adjustment of temperaturefor portions of the sleep surface based on results of the comparison.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide amethod, performed by at least one processor, for assisting in adjustinga user sleep platform environment with localized pressure regions acrossthe sleep surface, comprising: measuring indications of pressure overtime for a plurality of locations of the sleep surface; comparing theindications of pressure to at least one reference data pattern forindications of pressure for the plurality of locations of the sleepsurface; commanding localized pressure control information for adjustingfor portions of the sleep surface based on results of the comparison;measuring the sleep quality of the user using the sleep platformenvironment; comparing information from the user sleep platform with aplurality of different sleep platforms, the information including themeasured sleep quality of the users for each of the sleep platforms;selecting the pressure control information among the sleep platformsbased on the best sleep quality measurement; updating the controlsettings of the user sleep platform based on the selected pressurecontrol information.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide amethod, performed by at least one processor, for assisting in adjustinga user sleep platform environment with localized pressure regions acrossthe sleep surface, comprising: measuring indications of pressure for aplurality of locations of the sleep surface for a given time period;comparing the indications of pressure to at least one reference datapattern for indications of pressure for the plurality of locations ofthe sleep surface; commanding localized pressure control information foradjusting for portions of the sleep surface based on results of thecomparison for that given time period; measuring the sleep quality ofthe user using the sleep platform environment for that given timeperiod; comparing information from that time period with the informationof the same user sleep platform environment from different time periods,the information including the measured sleep quality of the user foreach of the different time periods; selecting the pressure controlinformation among the time periods based on the best sleep qualitymeasurement; updating the control settings of the user sleep platformbased on the selected pressure control information.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide amethod, performed by at least one processor, for assisting in adjustinga user sleep platform environment with localized temperature regionsacross the sleep surface, comprising: measuring indications oftemperature over time of the sleep surface; comparing the indications oftemperature to at least one reference data pattern for indications oftemperature of the sleep surface; commanding temperature controlinformation for adjusting the sleep surface temperature based on resultsof the comparison; measuring the sleep quality of the user using thesleep platform environment; comparing information from the sleepplatform with a plurality of different sleep platforms, the informationincluding the measured sleep quality of the users for each of the sleepplatforms; selecting the temperature control information among the sleepplatforms based on the best sleep quality measurement; updating thecontrol settings of the user sleep platform based on the selectedtemperature control information.

Some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention provide amethod, performed by at least one processor, for assisting in adjustinga user sleep platform environment with localized temperature regionsacross the sleep surface, comprising: measuring indications oftemperature of the sleep surface for a given time period; comparing theindications of temperature to at least one reference data pattern forindications of temperature of the sleep surface; commanding temperaturecontrol information for adjusting for the sleep surface based on resultsof the comparison for that given time period; measuring the sleepquality of the user using the sleep platform environment for that giventime period; comparing information from that time period with theinformation of the same user sleep platform environment from differenttime periods, the information including the measured sleep quality ofthe user for each of the different time periods; selecting thetemperature control information among the time periods based on the bestsleep quality measurement; updating the control settings of the usersleep platform based on the selected temperature control information.

These and other aspects of the invention are more fully comprehendedupon review of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a dynamic bed system and associatedinformation in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows top views of two embodiments of a digital coil module inaccordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of a bed with sensor anddigital coil module arrays in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a bed inaccordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a digitalcoil module in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 6A shows a block diagram including aspects of an embodiment of asleep platform in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 6B shows a further block diagram including aspects of an embodimentof a sleep platform in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram including a flow diagram of an embodimentof a therapy program in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram including a flow diagram of an embodimentof a sleep analytics program in accordance with aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 9 shows information relating to an embodiment of a digital coil inaccordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows further information relating to an embodiment of a digitalcoil in accordance with aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention includes methods and systems, devices, and/or combinationof apparatuses to provide a reactive and/or adaptive sleep system andmethods for using individual and collective group analytics and learningtechniques to improve sleep quality. Some embodiments in accordance withaspects of the invention comprise a bed system and analytics andlearning platform with multiple elements, which may include one, some,or all of:

1) a bed system that integrates

a) sensors and other inputs to detect specific sleep environmentconditions (including point-specific pressure and support, temperature,sound and/or light), physiological conditions and position, and otheruser and environmental context,

b) specific array of actuators or other devices that can be controlledto physically enable a dynamic sleep surface and/or environment for anindividual or multiple individuals in a multi-zone configuration,

c) a modular physical design to ease shipment, portability,user-assembly and/or inventory logistics,

d) a controller, including at least one processor, configured to commandactuation of the actuators, collect and/or process sensor data, andcommunicate over a network to a remote computer that performs dataanalytic and learning algorithms and methods,

2) methods to

a) analyze user conditions and context

b) generate control signals to adjust and optimize dynamically the sleepsurface and/or environment in order to maximize sleep quality based onmetrics

c) learn which combination control signals and sequences result inimproved sleep quality for the user and collection of users, and

3) a network-connected data analytics and learning architecture thatperforms methods to analyze user and platform data across user groups inorder to optimize sleep control configurations for individual users, forexample to measure effectiveness and learn iterative optimizations andimprovements for individuals and different subgroups who share commoncharacteristics.

FIG. 1 shows a high level description of the entire system showing a bedsystem with integrated sensors and dynamic, location-specific supportand temperature control of the sleep surface, controlled by a localcontroller 115 which manages the sleep environment and communicates withone or more remote cloud servers 121 that run a sleep therapy analyticsand learning program that analyzes user and platform data acrossmultiple users 123 to determine optimal control parameters, heuristicsand settings (named Therapy Profile) for the individual user, which aresent back 117 and updated to the user's bed system. The bed system mayinclude a bed with temperature and sensor layers 113 and adjustablecoils 111.

This disclosure details aspects of various embodiments in the followingsections for a physical architecture and for analysis and controlmethods, including methods to analyze conditions and context anddynamically adjust sleep conditions in real-time, and methods formultiuser analysis and sleep configuration and control optimizations.

Physical Architecture

Some embodiments provide fine-resolution dynamic surface control, whichprovides control, precise control of one, some, or all firmness,displacement, and temperature of individual zones across a sleepingsurface. In some embodiments dynamic surface control is enabled with acombination of an array of “digital coils”, which provide for digitalcontrol of the relative firmness level and displacement across thesurface, integrated zonal temperature control for local heating andcooling, and the integration of a combination of sensors to determinelocalized pressure, displacement, movement, and temperature across thesurface. In some embodiments, methods to evaluate, analyze and usesensor and context information to determine exact control instructionsand configuration changes that are used to control the digital coils andtemperature zone mechanisms to improve sleep conditions in real-time areutilized.

The control of the support and firmness of small, localized zones of thesurface may be performed by a “digital coil”, which is a mechanism belowthe upper sleep surface that controls firmness level and displacement ofa localized area of the bed surface. Digital coils 213, 221 may bedistributed in an array below the upper sleep surface, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 3.

Top surface area: The digital coil can be of different top surface areasizes, and shapes in some embodiments. The surface area size is set toprovide adequate spatial resolution to effectively relieve or supportspecific body parts on the bed. For instance, around the head, neck andshoulder areas, which may be more sensitive to pressure points andalignment, smaller coil sizes, such as <5 cm in diameter, can be used toprovide enough control and spatial resolution to provide adequatedynamic support relief and adjustments. Alternatively, in the areasaround the legs and feet, larger coils, such as <15 cm in diameter, canbe used to provide dynamic support relief and adjustments given thelarger size of the lower body parts and different weights of the limbs.

Shape: The digital coil can also have different volumetric shapes.Different digital coil mechanisms are used in various embodiments, anddepending on the mechanism and cost or manufacturing constraints,different volumetric shapes can be used, such as cylinder, rectangle,cube, cones, or hexagonal prisms.

To provide the Digital Coil functionality of controlled firmness anddisplacement support, different embodiments are possible.

Alternative 1: Air Chamber: One embodiment includes a small air chamberwith a predominantly solid state air control valve 913 connected to ashared pneumatic air line 915, as shown in FIG. 9. The embodiment ofFIG. 9 may include some or all of: an air chamber provided by a bladder911 (which may be sealed by way of a heat weld 917) or an accordion-likestructure 923, a control valve, an electrical line to control valve andcontroller, which may be configured in a daisy-chain pneumaticconfiguration. Some embodiments may include integrated displacement andpressure sensors, a default state with no power or no connectivity, oralternative: with a combined foam 921 and air chamber. In someembodiments stepping motor valves 927, 929 (SMVs) may be used inregulating pressure, for example from a pressure supply line 931. Apiezo crystal 925 may be used to monitor pressure. In some embodimentsthe digital coils 935 may be arranged in a two-dimensional array, withplenum 937 spaces between the coils.

A PZT piston design may be used in some embodiments (for example asshown in FIG. 10). Additional alternatives: one possible embodiment is apassive air chamber, possibly made of some form a plastic, rubber, orpolyurethane, of various sizes and shapes. These passive air chamberscan be connected by air tubes or lines to an electronically-controlledair valve or solenoid, which is controlled by a controller. In someembodiments a gel cushion 1011 is atop a piston 1013, operation of whichexpands or contracts an air donut 1015. Operation of the piston may beprovided by a PZT “inchworm” 1017, which is atop a platform 1019. Insome embodiments electronics 1021 for operating the coil is providedbelow the platform.

Each Digital Coil is electrically connected to a controller, which sendsdigital control signals to set firmness and/or displacement ofindividual digital coils. The controller can be local to each coil or asubset of coils, and those local controllers can also be connected to aregional controller that sends control signals to a large region or theentire bed surface. The control signals can be digital signals, whichare converted by the local controllers into either analog or digitalsignals that can read by a mechanism inside the coil that sets pressureand/or displacement. For example, for an air-chamber based designdescribed above, the solid state air control valve can receive analogcontrol signals from the local controller. Alternatively, to minimizethe total number of electrical wires in the coil array, the electricalconnections between localized controllers and a global controller can beconfigured in a daisy-chain configuration, where each localizedcontroller has an input and output that can be connected to an adjacentlocalized controller. Separately, electrical power can be deliveredacross to multiple digital coils by sharing a common power and groundline across multiple digital coils. Alternatively, one or more digitalcoils cam be connected by air tubes or lines to anelectronically-controlled air valve or solenoid, which in turn isconnected to an air pump and vent that can inflate or deflate the airchamber in a controlled manner. The electrical control signals to theair valve are generated by a controller, which generates digital controlsignals which can be converted into electrical control signals to eachair valve.

Each Digital Coil may also or instead be connected to a pneumatic line,which can supply gas or liquid pressure to enable Digital Coilfunctionality. This hydraulic line can be shared across multiple digitalcoils to minimize tubing complexity, and hydraulic lines can also beconnected to a common gas or liquid reserve tank to help maintain andregulate hydraulic pressure in the system.

In some embodiments Digital Coils Modules 415 may be used, with a moduleassembly of multiple digital coils in a Digital Coil Module, which maybe housed in a module structural housing 211, 211 a, 211 b. Use of theDigital Coil Module to partitions digital coil array into smallermodules that enable the bed to be easily packed, shipped and assembledby the end-user. Also, the modules may allow for easier inventorymanagement, be more cost-effective, and make repair and maintenanceeasier. The dimensions of a module can be defined to configure intomultiple bed sizes using different numbers of modules in variousorientations. The sizes may also be defined for easy handling andshipping for a single person to ship or receive, carry and assemble.These modules could be placed side-by-side into a cavity volume spacedesigned at the core of the bed mattress, which is designed toaccommodate multiple modules to fill the entire cavity. Each module canhouse uniform-sized coils, as shown in FIG. 2, or can house differentsized coils to be placed in different regions of the bed to matchrequired resolution of body parts and expected size of pressure points(see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). FIG. 3 shows an example of two different sizeddigital coils being used for different bed regions, although otherconfigurations and more than 2 sizes are also possible.

As shown in FIG. 5, each module has a plurality of coils 511 and atleast 2 connectors 513, 519, with a module structural housing 515. Eachconnector can support one or more of the following: electrical power andground lines, digital electrical signal lines, and fluidic lines. Eachconnector can align and connect to an adjacent module to enablemodule-to-module connectivity or alternatively connect to the systemcontroller and/or the central fluidic system. The interconnectivitybetween modules can provide in some embodiments connectivity from thesystem controller to all the modules in the system.

In some embodiments each digital coil area or multiple digital coilareas is coupled with either or both a pressure sensor and displacementsensor to generate real-time information about the topology and pressuremap across the bed.

A pressure sensor measures pressure, which is the expression of theforce required to stop a fluid from expanding, described as force perunit area. A pressure sensor acts as a transducer, generating a signal,typically electrical, as a function of the pressure imposed. Other namesfor pressure sensors include, but not limited to pressure transducers,pressure transmitters, pressure senders, pressure indicators,piezometers and manometers. There are many different types of pressuresensors, including but not limited to piezoresistive, capacitive,electromagnetic, piezoelectric, optical, potentiometric, resonant,thermal, and ionization. In some cases the pressure map may be binaryindicating the presence of pressure above a threshold.

In some embodiments the pressures sensors are located anywhere along theair path. In some embodiments, an array of pressure sensors isintegrated into the bed to generate information of a real-time pressuremap across the bed surface, which can be used, for example by acontroller such as a processor, to help determine information such asthe presence of a person on the bed, body position, body state, highpressure points, and movement, which can then be used, together withother inputs and information from other sources, to determineappropriate dynamic changes to the sleep platform. In some embodiments,the pressure sensor can be connected where the air valve connects to theair tube that connect to the air chamber(s).

One embodiment includes at least one pressure sensor per digital coilarea, which measures the local vertical pressure asserted from the bedsurface in the local area of the individual digital coil. In someembodiments, the pressure sensor can be integrated into the digital coilitself. In some embodiments, if some type of liquid or gas (e.g. air) isused in the digital coil, the pressure sensor could measure the pressureof that liquid or gas, which would vary depending on how much weight isasserted on the bed surface directly above. In some embodiments, thepressure sensors could be located outside the digital coil assembly,either as part of the digital coil module assembly or as part ofdifferent layer 411 above the digital coils, for example in modules 415,and possibly foam/gel layers 413, all of which may be supported by astructural base (see FIG. 4). An alternative embodiment would distributeone pressure sensor across multiple digital coils, for example in orderto save costs or may be adequate to provide enough information aboutbody position and state. The collective array of pressure sensors acrossthe bed would be electrically (and or data) coupled to a localcontroller or distributed multiple local controllers, which wouldprocess the signals from the sensors into digital information. In thelatter case, the multiple local controllers could then be electrically(and or data) coupled to a global system controller that stores andprocesses the aggregated sensor information from the entire sensor arrayfor the portion or entire bed.

A displacement sensor is a device that measures heights and/ordistances. Displacement sensors can also be used together with othersensors, such as the pressure sensors, to help determine the variousvertical heights, distances and relative distances in each or multipledigital coil areas. When collectively used as an array, thesedisplacement sensors provide information of a real-time topology map ofthe bed surface, which can be used to help determine information such asbody position, body state, body type and shape, body weight, and sleepstage, and can be used, together with other inputs and information fromother sources, to determine appropriate dynamic changes that can be madeto the sleep platform, as well as helping to classify the user intocertain user groups that can identify what therapy profiles might workbetter for the user. Different displacement sensors types include butare not limited to laser sensors, LED sensors, ultrasonic sensors,contact sensors, and eddy current sensors.

A displacement sensor can be integrated into the digital coil assembly,for example as shown by sensors 215 in FIGS. 2 and 3, to measure thevertical height displacement of the individual digital coil.Alternatively, the displacement sensors may be integrated into thedigital coil module assembly or the bed structure or other bed layers.An alternative embodiment would include one displacement sensor formultiple digital coils in order to save costs or may be adequate toprovide enough information about body position and state.

The combination of information from the arrays of pressure anddisplacement sensors can be used, for example by a processor, togenerate a detailed, real-time 3-D map of the body on the bed surface.This information can be used to analyze exact or relative, real-timebody, spinal and neck alignment and position, body type and shape, andbody state. It can also be used to determine any localized area on thebed surface that may need adjustments in reductions in firmness andsupport to alleviate high pressure points or increases in firmness andsupport to improve spinal alignment, neck and head positions, oruncomfortable or awkward body positions. For instance, one methodimplemented using at least one processor to improve sleep quality is 1)detect and determine the sleep state of the user, 2) determine thereal-time body, spinal, neck positions and alignments andhigher-pressure points from the information of these sensor arrays, 3)based on #1 and #2, determine what adjustments need to made, 3) makecontrol changes to the digital coil array to adjust body position,alignments, and comfort. The timing and speed of these support changesmay also vary and depend on 1) what sleep state the user is in, 2) theexact zone location (e.g. near head, legs, feet, or shoulders), 3) userpreferences, or 4) user history (e.g. speed x has woken this user orother users, speed y has been used successful in the past and not wokenup this user or similar other users) to ensure that the changes are notdisruptive and uncomfortable.

In addition to dynamic surface control of support and firmness, someembodiments also integrate both continuous-periodic temperature sensingand dynamic temperature control apparatuses (heat/cooling) of individualzones across the sleeping area surface.

The array of temperature sensors provides information of a detailed,real-time temperature map of the bed surface. It is known that certainareas of the body are more sensitive to temperature. Instead of heatingor cooling the entire bed or large regions of the bed, localizedtemperature control can be more effective in helping to regulate bodytemperature and comfort, especially if those temperature regulation arealigned to specific body part locations, which can move during sleep.Since the information from the pressure and/or displacement sensors canbe used to determine position and location of the user's body parts atany given moment, this information can be used together with thetemperature sensor information to enable dynamic control and regulationof the temperature of specific body locations, even with body movementor changing environment conditions. The precise control of heating orcooling of specific body parts (e.g. hands, feet, neck, torso) can bevery effective, as well as energy efficient, in helping regulate overallbody comfort and temperature.

There are variety of different materials and devices that can be used asa temperature sensor, such as thermistors, thermocouples, metal-basedresistance temperature detectors, or a silicon-based band gaptemperature sensor.

FIG. 3 includes an array of temperature sensors across the bed surface.Some embodiments include an array of temperature sensors distributedacross the width and length of the bed to provide information of adetailed, real-time temperature map of the bed surface.

In one embodiment, there is at least one temperature sensor for everyheat/cooling apparatus zone. Alternative embodiments could also have onetemperature sensor for multiple temperature control apparatus zones, aswell as multiple temperature sensors per single temperature controlapparatus zone.

The locations and spatial resolutions of the temperature sensors caneither be the same or different than those of other sensors, such as thepressure or displacement sensors.

The temperature sensors can also be distributed across the bed uniformlyor non-uniformly. For instance, the upper body areas may need finerspatial resolution of temperature control vs. lower body areas, andthere may be more temperature sensors, more densely distributed, in theupper body areas as a result.

The temperature sensors can be located in any of the layers in the bed,with in some embodiments temperature sensors located in any one of thelayers. FIG. 4 shows an integrated sensor layer 411 on the top layer ofthe bed, which could include temperature sensors. The temperaturesensors could also be located in lower bed layers, such as foam or gellayers 413. The temperature sensors could also be integrated into thedigital coil, either on the top surface of the digital coil orintegrated into the digital coil in a chamber or space where gas orliquid exists. Temperature sensors can also be located to sense theambient temperature.

Multiple temperature sensors may be connected to either a local orsystem controller. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, sensor information frompressure sensors 619 and/or temperature sensors 623 are collected andoptionally processed by local controllers are sent to a systemcontroller 611. The system controller can further store, organize andprocess that sensor data. This data can be processed and analyzed todetermine the exact spatial temperature conditions of the sleepenvironment and then be used to determine control adjustments for coilmodules 617 and for the temperature control apparatuses 621 in the sleepenvironment to improve sleeping conditions. The Z location temperatureinformation can be used to calculate temperature gradients, furtherinforming a temperature controller of appropriate actions. In someembodiments the system controller may also command position for anadjustable base 615.

Temperature control apparatuses (heating/cooling) in temperature controlzones across the bed surface may be coupled with the temperature sensorarray, some embodiments can also include one or more (an array) oftemperature control apparatuses that can heat and/or cool variouslocalized zones across the bed surface. In some embodiments, eachcontrol apparatus can be used to control a single temperature controlzone. One or more temperature sensors may be associated with everytemperature control apparatus zone. The temperature control apparatuscan be embodied in various ways, including resistive electrical heatingelements integrated into one of the bed layers, vented air channels forheating and/or cooling, or temperature control of the internal gases,air or liquids in the digital coil assembly. Temperature control zonescan be oriented in a horizontally or vertically striped fashion orconfigured in a 2-D array configuration.

The temperature control apparatuses are connected to either a localcontroller or system controller, which set control signals thatdetermine the heating or cooling setting of each apparatus. Eachtemperature of each zone can be separately controlled or multiple or allzones can be connected and regulated together to maintain a singletarget temperature across zones.

By utilizing the combination of pressure, displacement, and/ortemperature sensor data, an example method performed by one or moreprocessors for providing specific temperature control of targeted bodyzones in a sleeping environment may be as follows.

Step 1: Collect data from temperature sensor array, and collect datafrom pressure sensor array and/or displacement sensor array.

Step 2: Analyze pressure and/or displacement sensor data to determinereal-time position of the user's body and identify exact locations ofvarious body parts (e.g. head, neck, arms, torso, hips, legs, feet,etc.)

Step 3: Analyze temperature sensor array data to determine real timetemperatures of various zones across the bed.

Step 4: Combine temperature zone data and body location data from Steps2 and 3 to estimate the temperature of various body parts and zones ofthe user.

Step 5: Compare body part temperatures with hot and cold thresholdtemperature values to determine whether any specific body parts exceedthreshold temperature settings.

Step 6: If temperature thresholds are exceeded in any body locations,determine new temperature apparatus control settings to either cool orheat the body location and send those updated control settings to thetemperature control apparatus associated with the bed location next tothe targeted body part location.

The platform can also include additional integrated sensors to determinethe user's health vitals and statistics. The data from these sensors canbe used to determine real-time vitals, which can include, but notlimited to, motion, heart rate, heart beat signal signature andmonitoring, respiration rate and signal, EKG, blood pressure, weight,sensor(s). This data can be used for several purposes including: todetermine real-time sleep state and stages, to help track and monitorthe sleep quality metrics and sleep history, to help track and monitoruser health and body status, and to detect and identify potential healthor sleep issues.

These health-related sensors can include, but are not limited to, motionsensors, such as accelerometers, or force/pressure sensors, such aspiezoelectric-based sensors. These sensors can detect micro-movements ofthe body and translate those micro-movements into analog electricalsignals that capture details of those movements. When adequatelyamplified and digitized, this information can be stored, processed andanalyzed by a processor to perform techniques to extract physiologicalinformation, such as ballistocardiography (BCG), which is the techniqueof graphic representation and analysis of the movements of the bodyimparted by the ballistic forces (recoil and impact) associated withcardiac contraction and ejection of blood and with the deceleration ofblood flow through the large blood vessels. These sensors can be used tomonitor cardiac and respiratory activity. The data can also be used tohelp identify certain patterns or signatures in the activity that areassociated with certain body state, sleep stages, activities, healthconditions or issues, or sleep issues or conditions, cardiovascularissues, or other physiological state or conditions.

EKG (ECG) sensors may also be used. Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG*) isthe process of recording the electrical activity of the heart over aperiod of time using electrodes placed on the skin. These electrodesdetect the tiny electrical changes on the skin that arise from the heartmuscle's electrophysiologic pattern of depolarizing during eachheartbeat. An ECG can be used to measure the rate and rhythm ofheartbeats, the size and position of the heart chambers, the presence ofany damage to the heart's muscle cells or conduction system, the effectsof cardiac drugs, and the function of implanted pacemakers. Whiletraditional EKG uses electrodes attached to the skin, it is skin contactthat is required and attachment is not required. ECG sensor materialscan be integrated into the bed surface where there is often skincontact.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) senses the body's rate of blood flow using alight-based technology. PPG light emitters and sensors can be integratedinto the bed surface.

Microphones positioned correctly near a sleep surface can sometimespickup and detect a heartbeat and respiration. Microphones can also hearsnoring, coughing, and other health related symptoms.

The data from these health sensors may also be used to detect or predictsleep or health issues. For instance, if certain combinations orpatterns of health sensor data and history of the user, in combinationwith the other sensor data from the system, are compared to similar datafrom other user groups and there is high correlation with users withconfirmed health issues or sleep disorders/issues, the user may bealerted and warned by the system. The system could also be designed tostore key recommendations and helpful information for different userconditions, and that information can be automatically sent to the userin response to those issues being identified in the analysis. Also,based on the potential health or sleep issues identified, the exactsleep environment controls (“Therapy Profiles”) may be modified to helpaddress the issues identified. An audio microphone: used to trackambient and disruptive noise, detect snoring or breathing issues, ortrack breathing and movement, as indicated in FIG. 5. A light sensor maybe used to track and detect the frequencies and intensity of ambient,daylight and artificial light, correlate with sleep activity anddisruptions, align with circadian rhythms and schedules, use to targetwaking conditions or alarms, or use in conjunction of local room lightcontrols (FIG. 5).

In some embodiments the bed platform is locally controlled by a localcontroller, for example as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. A local controllermay be coupled to bed platform sensors, inputs, digital coils,temperature control mechanisms. A local controller system includes CPUprocessor, which can also be integrated into a system-on-chip (or SoC),memory, storage, network connectivity (wired and/or wireless). The localcontroller may be capable of running programs (“Therapy Programs”) thatmonitor input signals and data, store and analyze those signals anddata, match characteristic states, in real time determine and changedynamically control settings to the bed platform based on thosereal-time input signals and data, based on and updating historical dataand trends. The local controller may be connected by network connection629 to other network-connected devices 625, 627 in the house and bedroomto control extended bedroom and wider environment, for example lights,thermostat, humidifier, aroma diffuser, sound/audio devices.

The local controller can communicate over its network connection toremote server or servers 613 that receive data from the local controllerand remotely run software programs that process the data from the localcontroller and can send data and updated control or program/softwareback to the local controller which can modify or change how the localcontroller works with the bed platform. The software and programs thatrun on both the local controller and remote server can execute methodsthat are in this document. Furthermore, an embodiment of thepartitioning of how the software operates between the local controllerand remote server is also discussed in the following section.

Analysis and Control Methods

In some embodiments, in order to make effective sleep environmentchanges in real-time to improve sleep quality, certain pertinent datacan be collected and analyzed to determine specific user state andconditions, which can then be integrated with heuristic methods ofenvironment improvements that translate into specific controlinstructions to make fine-resolution physical changes dynamically withthe user's sleep environment in real-time. Some embodiments of thisarchitecture supports the combination of pertinent data collection,methods of analysis and generation of control feedback instructions(e.g. improvement through iternative learning), and methods formultiuser and multi-instance analysis and learning, both locally andacross larger groups. These methods, individually and collectively, canbe used to dynamically adjust fine resolution physical controls of thissleep environment that uniquely enable improvements to sleep quality.

Methods to analyze conditions and context and dynamically adjust sleepconditions in real-time. Firstly, “real-time” for a sleeper can bedefined as something that happens at an appropriate scale for a sleeperand need not be immediate and instantaneous. Over the course of a 7 hoursleep (420 minutes=25,200 seconds) it may sometimes be appropriate for asleeper on a soft surface if the real time response to an eventcommences a few seconds after the event and takes place over a period ofa few seconds.

A method for analyzing conditions and context and dynamically adjustsleep conditions in real-time is illustrated in FIG. 7, whichdiagrammatically illustrates operation of a controller 701 to control asleep platform 711, with the controller in communication with a remoteserver 731. This method can be implemented in a software program, which,in one embodiment, can be called a Therapy Program, which can execute onthe local controller shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In some embodiments the program performs three basic functions: (1)input data collection, (2) determine user state and condition, and (3)determine settings (control outputs) for the sleep platform environment.These functions can be performed in real-time and allow for real-timeanalysis and dynamic control of the sleep environment based on changingconditions and user activity/state. For the latter two functions, theprogram may also relies on a collection of rules, threshold conditionsand parameters, pre-determined data patterns, analysis guidelines, andcontrol profiles, collectively called a Therapy Profile, thatfunctionally determines the control settings of the sleep platform basedon the input data. The Therapy Profile can be programmed and changed,either statically or dynamically. FIG. 7 shows the Therapy Program usinga current Therapy Profile, which can be updated with a different TherapyProfile or additional Therapy Profiles either stored locally or sentremotely over the network from the remove server. More details of eachof these three functions are described below:

Certain data is collected and analyzed to determine specific user stateand conditions and effectiveness. This pertinent data may include datacollected from the sensors integrated into the physical hardwareplatform along with timestamps in some embodiments, providing activecollection of pertinent, real-time data (as discussed in the PhysicalArchitecture section above). The data may also include personal usercontext information, including date of birth (for age), weight, height,sex, health condition, pre-existing health and sleep issues (such aspain points, injuries, insomnia, snoring, apnea), weight, weeklyschedule and calendar events, diet, and emotional state. The datacollected may also include user sleep preferences, such as sleepposition preferences, sleep schedule, number of hours they ideally liketo get or usually get, days they like to sleep in, sleep with partner oralone, and partner sleep preferences and requirements. The datacollected may also include user feedback, which is provided by the userin response to the user's experiences or status.

The personal user context information can be collected directly from theuser, for example, via a questionnaire or by the user allowing access topersonal health records, or if the user opts in to allow the platform toaccess their personal smartphone databases such as calendar and activitytracker applications. The user feedback information could be accesseddirectly from the user on a regular basis; for instance, every morningupon wake up, users could answer a few questions on how they feel or howtheir sleep experience was that night. As shown in FIG. 7, these currentdata inputs can be collected and stored in a database 715 (UserDatabase) along with data inputs from past history, which can then beanalyzed (see below) and also shared with the remote server.

The program can use the data stored in the database to perform analysisto determine the user's state, context and conditions. Each targetstate, context or condition can be determined when the data is compared,matched, and/or correlated to pre-determined data patterns associatedwith each. If there is high correlation or high confidence of a match(as determined by preset thresholds), the user's state, context orcondition can be classified and estimated and used to determine how thesleep platform environment may be adapted and adjusted to optimize sleepquality metrics. These computed user state, context and conditions canalso be stored in the User Database, along with timestamps in someembodiments. These user state, context and conditions can include thefollowing four examples, although other conditions and context can alsobe incorporated to the system:

The input sensors on the platform can detect motion and changes inpressure across the sleep surface, and log this over time, and if thesedata values have high correlation to patterns that represent sleep, theprogram can determine that the user is currently sleeping.Alternatively, if the data patterns have high correlation to othernon-sleep activities (e.g. reading a book, watching TV, etc.), theprogram can also determine the user non-sleep activity state. Since theplatform control settings depend greatly on the user's activity stateand whether the user is asleep or not, this analysis is an importantfunction.

The reference data patterns for different user activities and thecorrelation thresholds that are used to determine how well the user datapatterns match the reference data patterns can be included as part ofthe Therapy Profile.

As discussed earlier, current clinical definitions consider four stagesof sleep: REM (Rapid Eye Movement), and three non-REM sleep stages(NREM: N1, N2, and N3), where N3 is also called delta sleep or slow-wavesleep. Sleep quality and other functions of sleep such as feelingrefreshed and memory consolidations are linked to the length and depthof sleep in REM and deep sleep stages (N3).

In various embodiments this system is able to estimate, in nearreal-time, the sleep stage of the user based on current and past inputdata from the platform (Current Inputs and Input Database). Sleep statecan be estimated and determined with a combination of sensor datainputs, including but not limited to motion detection, heart rate, heartrhythm, heart electrophysiologic pattern or motion signature,temperature, body position, breathing rhythm and audio patterns. Sleepstage classification may always be an estimate, and it is welldocumented that two board-certified sleep scorers will assign differentsleep states to the same subject. Sleep scoring is not always possiblein real time, as some sleep states, according to the definitions of thestates, can only be determined after the fact once the subsequent statehas been determined. Real-time for sleep states for common medical useare in 30-second epochs.

The reference data patterns for different sleep phases and thecorrelation thresholds that are used to determine how well the user datapatterns match the reference data patterns can be included as part ofthe Therapy Profile. Furthermore, the reference data pattern used forthis collection of data for each sleep phase may be common acrossmultiple users or also be unique to a given individual. This systemplatform is designed to identify, recognize and support both common anduser-specific sleep stage recognition patterns.

Sleep quality and state can be highly dependent on the user's sleepposition. Sleep position affects several factors including:uncomfortable pressure points, positioning of limbs, neck, head, back,including spine, neck and posture alignment, the positioning of head,neck and torso that determines how easily or difficult the user canbreathe (e.g. snoring, apnea).

In typical clinical sleep stage recordings there are 4 primary sleeppositions recorded: The body position (BPOS) of back (supine), leftside, right side and front. However, within those 4 primary positions,there are many possible body and limb positions that can occur.

In various embodiments this system is able to determine, in real-time,the detailed body position of the user based on current and past inputdata from the platform (Current Inputs and Input Database). Sleep andbody position can be estimated and determined with a combination ofsensor data inputs, including but not limited to the pressure map of thepressure sensor array across the sleep surface, the temperature map ofthe temperature sensor array across the sleep surface, pre-calibratedinformation related to the exact user body dimensions, weight and shape,breathing rhythm, audio patterns, and heart data. This information canalso be used and analyzed to estimate spine, neck and head alignment (ormis-alignment).

The reference data patterns for different sleep and body positions andthe correlation thresholds that are used to determine how well the userdata patterns match the reference data patterns can be included as partof the Therapy Profile. Furthermore, the reference data pattern used forthis collection of data for each sleep position may be common acrossmultiple users or also be unique to a given individual. In variousembodiments this system platform may identify, recognize and supportboth common and user-specific sleep position data patterns.

Sleep quality can also highly depend on breathing effectively duringsleep. Many people suffer from breathing issues, such as apnea, whichinvolves the “suspension of external breathing”. During apnea, there isno movement of the muscles of inhalation and the volume of the lungsinitially remains unchanged. Also, many people suffer from snoring,which not only disrupts the individual's sleep quality but also otherssleeping nearby.

In various embodiments this platform may help address breathing issues,so breathing status and breathing characteristic analysis is animportant feature. In various embodiments this system is able todetermine, in real-time, the exact breathing status of the user based oncurrent and past input data from the platform (Current Inputs and InputDatabase). Breathing status and characteristics (for example dysfunctionseverity) can be estimated and determined with a combination of sensordata inputs, including but not limited to the audio signature of thebreathing sounds and rhythm of the user, motion detection, heart rate,heart rhythm, heart electrophysiologic pattern or motion signature,temperature, and body position. The reference data patterns forbreathing status and conditions and the correlation thresholds that areused to determine how well the user data patterns match the referencedata patterns can be included as part of the Therapy Profile.Furthermore, the reference data pattern used for this collection of datafor each breathing condition or severity may be common across multipleusers or also be unique to a given individual. This system platform isdesigned to identify, recognize and support both common anduser-specific breathing status and condition data patterns, which may beused to help modify or optimize the Therapy Program and Therapy Profileto adjust the sleep platform environment optimally to improve sleepquality.

In some embodiments another function of the Therapy Program is to usethe collected data and determined user state and conditions from thefirst two functions to determine improved (possibly optimized) updatedsettings (or Control Outputs) for the sleep platform environment. Thereal-time adjustments to these settings helps enable the dynamicreal-time improvements to sleep quality that this invention enables. Inone embodiment, the Therapy Program performs this third function andthis can be performed on the local controller (as shown in FIG. 7) oralternatively be performed on a remote server.

This third function can be described with the following equation:

o=TP(i−rt)

where o=[o₁, o₂, o₃, . . . o_(m)] represents the set of output settingvalues that control the sleep platform environmentwhere i−rt=[i₁, i₂, i₃, . . . i_(n)] represents the set of real timeinputs from the User Database and where TP represents the TherapyProfile, which is the function that maps the set of inputs, i, to a setof outputs, o.

The Control Outputs shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 (and represented by the datavector, o, in the equation above) are the specific control signals andinstructions that precisely set the specific configuration values andtiming of the physical apparatuses of the sleep platform. Examples ofthis are the pressure value and displacement setting of each individualDigital Coil, and the transition timing on how quickly these settingschange from the old to the new settings occur. Another example of thisare the setting of either the heating or cooling elements, as well asthe transition timing on how quickly these settings change from the oldto the new settings occur. Further examples of this are extendedenvironment output controls, such as lighting control, audio speakervolume and sounds (e.g. for alarm or music for going to sleep or wakingup).

As discussed earlier, the Therapy Program relies on a Therapy Profile,which functionally determines how to determine the control outputsettings of the sleep platform based on the input and user data, and canincorporate different components, including a collection of rules,threshold conditions and parameters, pre-determined data patterns,weighting parameters, analysis guidelines, and control profiles.

There can be collection of multiple Therapy Profiles, each designed fordifferent situations, and the Therapy Program can select and dynamicallyor statically change the Therapy Profile it uses, depending on differentsituations. For instance, some embodiments can allow for stage-specificTherapy Profiles, which adjusts different Therapy Profile settingsdepending on which sleep stage the user is in, or the part of the night(for example bed time, mid night, near wake up). Alternatively, someembodiments can enable position-specific Therapy Profiles, which adjustsdifferent Therapy Profile settings depending on which sleep position theuser is in. Once the exact sleep position is determined, the TherapyProgram can determine and select which Therapy Profile and sleepplatform environment output settings will be most effective is helpingimprove user sleep quality in real-time based on the current sleepposition and sleep state. Furthermore, there can be dedicated TherapyProfiles for multiple combinations of user state or conditions, such asTherapy Profile that is optimized for a specific sleep stage, sleepposition, breathing condition, body type, gender, and other specificuser characteristics. Finally, the history of which Therapy Profile thatis used along with timestamps can be recorded in the User Database,which can be used later to be analyzed for future improvements andoptimizations.

In some embodiments TP=AF(i-h1, i-h2, i-h3, . . . i-hn)

where TP is the therapy profilewhere i−h=[i₁, i₂, i₃, . . . i_(n)] represents the set of historicalinputs from the User Database, for multiple peopleand where AF represents some aggregation function (statistical patternlearning function) which maps the sequences of historical inputs frommultiple people into a function (algorithm) that represent thehistorical data as a whole.

Therapy Profiles can be defined, adjusted and sorted using a softwareprogram that executes on a remote server that combines and analyzes theuser data with larger user groups to determine the most effectivesettings, values and heuristic guidelines of different Therapy Profiles.FIG. 8 illustrates an example of this method of the software program,which in one embodiment is named the Sleep Analytics Program. In thisprogram, Therapy Profiles can be defined and adjusted with the followingsteps: (1) Analyze and compare the user database and effectiveness ofeach component of a given user's Therapy Profile against those acrossdifferent groups of targeted users. (2) Compare then identify the mosteffective setting for a specific component of a Therapy Profile acrossmulti-users. (3) Adjust that user's Therapy Profile by using thatidentified, most effective setting. (4) Send the updated Therapy Profileto the user. (If the system supports an opt-in option for the user, theprogram can optionally send the update back to the user's platformdepending on the user's opt-in setting.)

The effectiveness of any given Therapy Profile can be summarized as avalue metric or collection of value metrics (in the example embodimentin FIG. 8, this metric is named SleepScore).

In one embodiment, the criteria of the Sleep Analytics Program can beset heuristically by medical or sleep experts who can evaluate thehigh-level analytics data, understand what it means, and determinecriteria of the program, such as (1) How to categorize and partitionvarious target user groups (2) Which components of each Therapy Profileshould be analyzed and prioritized for different sleep conditions orsituations (3) How to determine the weighting and criteria for theSleepScore value metric, which can combine some specific sensor datapatterns with user feedback to make sure there is strong correlationwith the value metric and actual sleep quality of the users.

As an alternative embodiment, a Therapy Profile can also include a setof expected or target SleepScore or set of expected or target sensorand/or system inputs. Once a Therapy Program has executed a givenTherapy Profile, the resulting measured sensor and system inputs wouldbe received and a Sleep Score can be computed by the Therapy Program.The Therapy Program can compare the Sleep Score to the expected/targetSleep Score of a given Therapy Profile. The Therapy Program can alsocompare the measured sensor and/or system inputs to the expected/targetinput values of a given Therapy Profile. If the Sleep Score and/orinputs match the expected/target values, the Therapy Profile is deemedeffective and no further changes are made. However, if the expectedvalues are not met, the Therapy Profile is changed to result in furtherimprovements.

Examples of potential effective Therapy Profiles for a given user groupmay be for a user group that includes users that suffer from apnea andshow significant sleep quality improvements when they sleep well ontheir side position vs. sleeping on their back (supine). The SleepAnalytics or Learning Program could select all the users that haveapnea, analyze and select those whose breathing and snoring improvedwhen sleeping on their side, evaluate the sleep platform output settingsfor all those who slept on their side to see which settings resulted inthe longest, deepest sleep when sleeping on their side in the deepestsleep phases, the select the combination of the most effective settingsto generate a combined Sleep Therapy Profile that works the best forthis targeted user group, measure the effectiveness of those users whouse this updated Therapy Profile to validate the benefits, and ifpositive, use this new Therapy Profile as the default setting for allthose users in the target user group.

In one embodiment, the criteria of the Sleep Analytics Program can beautomated. The Sleep Analytics Program could select all the users thathave one sleep characteristic (for example predominantly side sleepers,or predominantly snoring) of similar sleepers. Analyze and select thosenights whose sleep metrics are high and low (for example longest deepestsleep). Determine the sleep behavior and environmental states that arecommon for the higher sleep metrics and different for the lower metricsleepers. From this determine effective settings to generate a combinedSleep Therapy Profile that works the best for this targeted user group,measure the effectiveness of those users who use this updated TherapyProfile to validate the benefits, and if positive, use this new TherapyProfile as the default setting for all those users in the target usergroup.

Although the invention has been discussed with respect to variousaspects and embodiments, it should be recognized that the inventioncomprises the novel and non-obvious claims supported by this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bed system, comprising: a sleep surface; aplurality of sensors for providing indications of pressure for a firstplurality of different locations of the sleep surface; a plurality ofactuators to adjust pressures for a second plurality of differentlocations of the sleep surface; and a controller configured to receivethe indications of pressure and to command the plurality of actuators toadjust the pressures based the indications of pressures and arelationships between indications of pressure and desired pressures. 2.The bed system of claim 1, wherein the relationships between indicationsof pressure and desired pressures includes a plurality of collections ofrelationships between indications of pressure and desired pressures. 3.The bed system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configuredto select a particular one of the plurality of collections ofrelationships based on a sleep position of the user, for use incommanding the plurality of actuators to adjust the pressures.
 4. Thebed system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured todetermine a sleep position of a user on the sleep surface based on theindications of pressure and at least one reference data pattern for thesleep position.
 5. The bed system of claim 4, wherein the controller isfurther configured to select a particular one of the plurality ofcollections of relationships based on the determined sleep position ofthe user, for use in commanding the plurality of actuators to adjust thepressures.
 6. The bed system of claim 2, wherein the controller isfurther configured to determine a sleep stage of a user on the sleepsurface.
 7. The bed system of claim 6, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to select a particular one of the plurality of collections ofrelationships based on the determined sleep stage of the user, for usein commanding the plurality of actuators to adjust the pressures.
 8. Thebed system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determinethe sleep stage of the user based on the indications of pressure.
 9. Thebed system of claim 7, further comprising additional sensors and whereinthe controller is configured to determine the sleep stage of the userbased on indications from the additional sensors.
 10. The bed system ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to commandtransmission of the indications of pressure to a remote computer and toreceive changes to the relationships between indications of pressure anddesired pressures.
 11. The bed system of claim 1, wherein the firstplurality of locations and the second plurality of locations are thesame locations.
 12. The bed system of claim 1, wherein the firstplurality of locations and the second plurality of locations aredifferent locations.
 13. The bed system of claim 1, wherein theindications of pressure are for localized areas of the sleep surface.14. The bed system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of actuatorscomprise air springs.
 15. The bed system of claim 1, wherein theplurality of actuators comprise a plurality of arrays of actuators. 16.The bed system of claim 15, wherein actuators of a particular array ofactuators are commonly controlled.
 17. A method for adjusting a sleepsurface of a bed, comprising: measuring indications of pressure for aplurality of locations of the sleep surface; comparing the indicationsof pressure to at least one reference data pattern for indications ofpressure for the plurality of locations of the sleep surface; commandingadjustment of pressure for portions of the sleep surface based onresults of the comparison.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising selecting the at least one reference data pattern from aplurality of reference data patterns.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising determining the sleep position of the user using thesleep surface.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least onereference data pattern is selected based on a sleep position of a userusing the sleep surface.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the sleepposition of the user is determined based on the indications of pressure.22. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one reference datapattern is selected based on a sleep stage of a user using the sleepsurface.
 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining thesleep stage of the user.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the sleepstage of the user is based on a breathing pattern of the user or a heartrate of the user.
 25. The method of claim 17, wherein commandingadjustment of pressure for portions of the sleep surface is additionallybased on rules for desired pressures for the plurality of locations. 26.The method of claim 25, wherein the rules vary depending on a sleepstage of a user on the sleep surface.
 27. The method of claim 25,wherein the rules vary depending on a sleep position of the user
 28. Amethod, performed by at least one processor, for assisting in adjustinga sleep platform environment with localized pressure regions across thesleep surface, comprising: receiving information from a plurality ofsleep platforms, the information including localized pressure over timefor a plurality of locations across each of the sleep platforms;receiving information relating to a corresponding plurality of users ofthe plurality of sleep platforms, the information including heart and/orrespiratory information over time; determining updated localizedpressure control information for at least one user sleep platform basedon the received information from the plurality of sleep platforms andusers; and sending the updated localized pressure control information toat least one user sleep platform to update the control settings of thesleep platform.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the sleep platformenvironment additionally includes localized temperature regions acrossthe sleep surface, and the received information further includeslocalized temperature over time for the plurality of locations acrosseach of the sleep platforms, and further comprising: determining updatedlocalized temperature control information for at least one user sleepplatform based on the received information from the plurality of sleepplatforms and users; and sending the updated localized temperaturecontrol information to at least one user sleep platform to update thecontrol settings of the sleep platform.
 30. A bed system, comprising: asleep surface; a plurality of sensors for providing indications oftemperature for a first plurality of different locations of the sleepsurface; a plurality of temperature control apparatuses to adjusttemperature for a second plurality of different locations of the sleepsurface; and a controller configured to receive the indications oftemperature and to command the plurality of temperature controlapparatuses to adjust the temperatures based the indications oftemperature and a relationships between indications of temperature anddesired temperatures.
 31. The system in claim 30, further comprising: aplurality of sensors for providing indications of pressure for a firstplurality of different locations of the sleep surface; a plurality ofactuators to adjust pressures for a second plurality of differentlocations of the sleep surface; and a controller configured to receivethe indications of pressure and to command the plurality of actuators toadjust the pressures based the indications of pressures and arelationships between indications of pressure and desired pressures. 32.The system in claim 30, wherein the temperature control apparatusescomprise thermoelectric devices to to control air temperature.
 33. Thesystem in claim 32, wherein the temperature control apparatuses furthercomprise fans to move air from the thermoelectric device toward thesleep surface to control sleep surface temperature.
 34. The bed systemof claim 33, further comprising additional sensors and wherein thecontroller is configured to determine the sleep stage of the user basedon indications from the additional sensors.
 35. The bed system of claim34, wherein the controller is further configured to select a particularone of the plurality of collections of relationships based on thedetermined sleep stage of the user, for use in commanding the pluralityof actuators to adjust the pressures.
 36. A method for adjusting a sleepsurface of a bed, comprising: measuring indications of temperature for aplurality of locations of the sleep surface; comparing the indicationsof temperature to at least one reference data pattern for indications oftemperature for the plurality of locations of the sleep surface;commanding adjustment of temperature for portions of the sleep surfacebased on results of the comparison.
 37. The method in claim 36, furthercomprising: receiving indications of pressure for a plurality oflocations of the sleep surface; comparing the indications of pressure toat least one reference data pattern for indications of pressure for theplurality of locations of the sleep surface; commanding adjustment ofpressure for portions of the sleep surface based on results of thecomparison.
 38. The method in claim 36, further comprising determiningthe sleep stage of the user based on a breathing pattern of the user ora heart rate of the user.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein thecommanding adjustment of temperature is based on a sleep stage of a userusing the sleep surface.
 40. A method, performed by at least oneprocessor, for assisting in adjusting a user sleep platform environmentwith localized pressure regions across the sleep surface, comprising:measuring indications of pressure over time for a plurality of locationsof the sleep surface; comparing the indications of pressure to at leastone reference data pattern for indications of pressure for the pluralityof locations of the sleep surface; commanding localized pressure controlinformation for adjusting for portions of the sleep surface based onresults of the comparison; measuring the sleep quality of the user usingthe sleep platform environment; comparing information from the usersleep platform with a plurality of different sleep platforms, theinformation including the measured sleep quality of the users for eachof the sleep platforms; selecting the pressure control information amongthe sleep platforms based on the best sleep quality measurement;updating the control settings of the user sleep platform based on theselected pressure control information.
 41. A method, performed by atleast one processor, for assisting in adjusting a user sleep platformenvironment with localized pressure regions across the sleep surface,comprising: measuring indications of pressure for a plurality oflocations of the sleep surface for a given time period; comparing theindications of pressure to at least one reference data pattern forindications of pressure for the plurality of locations of the sleepsurface; commanding localized pressure control information for adjustingfor portions of the sleep surface based on results of the comparison forthat given time period; measuring the sleep quality of the user usingthe sleep platform environment for that given time period; comparinginformation from that time period with the information of the same usersleep platform environment from different time periods, the informationincluding the measured sleep quality of the user for each of thedifferent time periods; selecting the pressure control information amongthe time periods based on the best sleep quality measurement; updatingthe control settings of the user sleep platform based on the selectedpressure control information.
 42. A method, performed by at least oneprocessor, for assisting in adjusting a user sleep platform environmentwith localized temperature regions across the sleep surface, comprising:measuring indications of temperature over time of the sleep surface;comparing the indications of temperature to at least one reference datapattern for indications of temperature of the sleep surface; commandingtemperature control information for adjusting the sleep surfacetemperature based on results of the comparison; measuring the sleepquality of the user using the sleep platform environment; comparinginformation from the sleep platform with a plurality of different sleepplatforms, the information including the measured sleep quality of theusers for each of the sleep platforms; selecting the temperature controlinformation among the sleep platforms based on the best sleep qualitymeasurement; updating the control settings of the user sleep platformbased on the selected temperature control information.
 43. A method,performed by at least one processor, for assisting in adjusting a usersleep platform environment with localized temperature regions across thesleep surface, comprising: measuring indications of temperature of thesleep surface for a given time period; comparing the indications oftemperature to at least one reference data pattern for indications oftemperature of the sleep surface; commanding temperature controlinformation for adjusting for the sleep surface based on results of thecomparison for that given time period; measuring the sleep quality ofthe user using the sleep platform environment for that given timeperiod; comparing information from that time period with the informationof the same user sleep platform environment from different time periods,the information including the measured sleep quality of the user foreach of the different time periods; selecting the temperature controlinformation among the time periods based on the best sleep qualitymeasurement; updating the control settings of the user sleep platformbased on the selected temperature control information.